For those who love board sports, whatever you do, do not miss the Caledonian lagoon! With perfectly smooth water, almost constant breezes, waves for a technical challenge. In Nouméa or off the coast of the main island, windsurfing, kitesurfing, surfing and bodyboarding are perfect to do all throughout the year!

French cuisine in Nouméa

In Nouméa, regional French cuisine boasts originality to offer diverse culinary specialties every week. Plum tart, lentil stew, vanilla crème brûlée. Chefs love playing off Caledonian flavors to come up with new version of French classics, or else they are prepared according to the purest tradition.

Nouméa, the capital city of New Caledonia is on the ocean. Several bays extend along the city, providing magnificent beaches and points of view. Besides its natural features, Nouméa also has very attractive cultural offerings for tourists who choose to visit there.

From Ouvéa to the Isle of Pines, passing through Lifou, Tiga and Maré, the five islands bordering the Mainland, Grande Terre to the East are yet more gems to discover. From the blue hole of Hanawa at Ouvéa to the Warrior’s Leap at Wakone on Maré, via the Jokin Cliffs at Lifou or the Oro Bay on the Isle of Pines, let yourself be amazed!

The West Coast of the mainland (Grande Terre) shows off a great variety of scenery from its northern tip down to the area surrounding Nouméa. Characterised by both large spaces favouring cattle farming and a lagoon of stunning beauty, the West Coast is also host to a rich cultural heritage.

The central mountain range of the Mainland (Grande Terre) is a natural boundary, overlooking the very different faces of the East and West Coasts. Exposed to strong winds and therefore more humid, the eastern coast offers scenery with sumptuous flora. With a population of largely Melanesian origin, the East Coast has also retained a particularly charming flavour of authenticity.

The Great South, comprising the Mont-Dore and Yaté municipalities, is the most symbolic region for New Caledonia’s three main colours: blue, green and red. From the rainforest to the mining lands there are a thousand shades of green, while the ocean offers a dazzling palette of blues. But if one colour dominates the Great South, it is the specific red of its ground.

Moindou
between nature and heritage

The village of Moindou is located less than 130 kilometers from Nouméa. Its origins are closely linked to the penitentiary center of Bourail, leaving a strong heritage behind. Boasting generous, protected nature, Moindou offers the possibility of great hiking. The beach at Tanguy is also a must-see!

The poor anchoring conditions at the mouth of the Néra in Bourail led authorities at the time to look for a more sheltered port. The site at Mouidou (or Moindou in the Kanak language) was chosen in 1871.

The historic Fort-Teremba

If one building could sum up the Moindou’s notoriety, it would of course ben Fort-Teremba. As the most imposing military colonial vestige in New Caledonia, it has undergone constant renovation to match the colonial military at the turn of the 20th century. A sound and light show attracting thousands of spectators is also held every year on the citadel overlooking the sea.

A palm forest

Moindou is also well-known for its exceptional palm forest, especially the famous royal palms that are now the town’s pride. Imported from Cuba by a colonist originally from Réunion, Casimir Boyer, they are especially visible in the Garden of the Future, neat the chapel (which itself was constructed in 1947).

Industrial heritage isn’t just the royal palms. After tobacco growing came coal fever after the discovery of coal seams. This would last about ten years, but would leave important vestiges behind, like the Médouya factory on the mining site called “Audaces Fortunat Juva (literally “Fortune smiles upon the bold”).

The historic inn at Moindou (formerly known as Hotel Bray) still has traces of the road stop-over it used to be on the colonial Route 1 (which has since become a territorial road).

Collective Caledonian memory continues to associate Moindou with the arrival of immigrants from Alsace and Lorraine. In reality, barely a dozen settled in the village in 1873. Still, they left real traces that can be found in some place names. Bechtel Bridge, the Eschenbrenner coal seam (named after the family that also owned Château Beaumont) and Muller Marsh also keeps the memory alive of these pioneers of free colonization.

What to do in Moindou?

Beautiful nature

You’ll need about 1 driving in an SUV on a narrow trail through the mountains to reach the magic of the Table Unio tribal site. With its majestic peaks, its rivers and water holes, the splendid natural setting of Table Unio is an invitation for relaxation and discover. Walks, hikes in addition to braiding workshops are offered by the tribe to visitors. Note that every 3rd weekend of the month, a livestock market is held.

The sea at the village of Moindou is still notable, with the very beautiful beach at Tanghy, whose wild appearance is particularly appreciated by nature-lovers.

Explore Noumea and the three Loyalty Islands of Lifou, Ouvéa and Maré. There may be no better places that the Loyalty Islands for combining quintessential tropical island activities with encounters with the friendly Melanesian locals and their unique culture.